Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-14
THE JOS. DEAN TRIAL
He Married the Fair Florence in
March, 1884, Without Her
Fathers Consent.
A Marriage Of Pure LoTe-A Copy Of
Deans Letter to His Girl
Wife's Father.
Telling About the Ceremonies of the
Endowment House = Deans
First. Wife's Consent.
From Our ogden Correspondent

Dean was again the leading feature of the
First District Court proceedings yester-
day and to-day.
Taking up the thread of the cross-ex-
animation of the defendant where it had
been broken off the previous evening,
G. S. Varian pressed Dean pretty hard
as to the identity of certain persons who
had been on the train at the time when
Dean and Florence Ridges had been re-
turning from Logan, where they are &C.
cused of having entered into polygamous
wedding. Dean did not desire on that
occasion to be seen with Florence, hence
he left the car in the Sixteenth ward in
Salt Lake City. Had gone to Logan on
business. Never been in the Temple
there with Florence. Marriages were
not considered in good Church standing
if consummated outside of the Temples
or Endowment Houses of the Church.
Florence had come to live with him on
June 21st, 1885, no intimate marital
| connections between them having existed
previous to that date, ever since March
1884, the date of the plural marriage ad
mitted to have occurred lin Salt Lake
City. He did use to take her out buggy
riding, sometimes at nights, but his con-
duct had been such as to cause Linn no
concern till John G. Young met them.
1t was marriage of attachment between
the two. While living with him she
would 60 out on the street and into
society. Her status as to outsiders was
that OF assistant to his first wife who
was dress maker. Acknowledged it
was the law of the Church that the first
wife's consent should be had in cases of
plural marriage, and his own action had
been no exception to the rule, as he had
Sarah's consent to enter into the princi-
pie whenever he chose. He had entered
it because he felt it was his duty. Had
been stone cutter at the Temple block
till about year ago when he entered the
Office Of clerk in the Salt Lake Police
Court. 1t was left entirely with the par
ties entering upon such platonic
marriages. Had five children
from Sarah, the youngest being
six months old. Florence had been con-
cealed on the Underground since Jan
uary 1886, in order to hide her delicate
physical appearance. Had made no
effort to secure the presence at his trial
of the president of the Logan Temple. A
question as to whether political prefer
ment followed the compliance with the
Church doctrines, was not deemed proper
by the court. He had obtained a gem
eral consent of Sarah, not any specifi-
cally expressed one, so as to exempt the
first wife from having to give testimony
in any prosecution which might come up.
Had never received any certificate OF
marriage, in either case. Nothing had
ever been said as to records being kept,
but he had made inquiries and efforts as
to such when he got out of the penitea-
tiary last March. This was to assist him
in the present trial. Had consulted by
letter with Florence's father as to his in
tended marriage with Florence in Janu-
airy, 1884. The letter was produced by
the defense and objected to by the prose-
cution as improper. The letter was
finally admitted as testimony and read to !
the jury by the defendant.
Following is copy of the letter:
SALT LAKE CRY, Jan. 10, 1884.
BrotherJ. II. RidgeS-DEAR SIR: You are
no doubt aware of what has passed between
Florence and myself; at least | sincerely |
hope so. 1 can only plead the present con-
dltlon OF affairs as an excuse for the appar- /
ent clandestine manner in which I have |
gained your daughters affections.
l assure you that nothing would be more |
pleasing to my feelings, and more in har-
mony with my ideas of right, than to come,
as man of righteous intention should, and |
ask your consent. have thought it policy, |
however, not to do so, for reasons that be- |
lieve you will fully appreciate.
give my word, as man of honor. that |
my intentions are pure; and God knows l
have no other desire than to Keep His COM
mandments
promise you that Florence shall never 90
n IN To mn ont fl,oN Trvy.n
deavor to make her life happy, and be all to
her that virtuous and contiding girl has a
right to demand.
If you object on account of her youth l
will state that we have agreed not to live
together as man and wife for at least a
year.
Hoping that you will have confidence in
my integrity and not withhold your con-
sent. subscribe myself,
Yours very respectfully,
Jos. H. DEAN.
Varian crowded defendant closely as to
his success in his alleged endeavors to
secure witnesses to his marriage in 1884,
and submitted Dean to scorching inves-
tigation of his credibilitv. The letter OF
Dean to his intended father-in-Iaw
Ridges, was held up in rigid scrutiny as
an ingenious engine of quibbling, to
assist defendant in getting out of the
tolls. His statements as witness were
"all equally alike" The letter was not
written since the indictment in this case
was found.
To Mr.. Richards; had answered all
questions without mental reservation.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
After noon recess the defendant took
the stand once more, acknowledging il
was possible that he might have regis
tered and voted after entering into polyg-
amy. Questioned as TO endowments he
gave some testimony as to their nature.
James Iverson, called by the prosecu-
ton. Lived in Utah and Idaho for
eighteen wears, off and on Became
Mormon twenty-seven years ago, in Den .
mark, when fifteen years of age. He
was a missionary for about six wears, in
which time he had taught and preached ,,
he principles of the church. He was
Mormon the first two years after coming
% Utah. Had been through the En- ,
1owment House. A woman being mar ;
led or sealed for time and eternity in ,
plural or celestial marriage, then and ,
here completed her endowments. Cross !
examined by Mr.. Richards, he could not
4
'eceive any further endowments after be-
ng sealed for time and eternity; there I
we're certain religious rites performed
liter sealing, although he insisted that
he sealing for time and eternity was a
completion of the endowments. Left t
he church about seventeen years ago,
year after he had received his endow-
nents. He left the church because he
Irrived at belief that it was not the re-
igion he had wanted. {
]. B. Miner, called by the defense,
lad been Mormon for forty-four years, !
vas acquainted with doctrines and Or
finances OF the church to certain ex- j
ent. Had his endowments. He knew '
hat it was the practice to confer certain
ndowments upon people after they had 2
'een sealed. Such were "baptisms,p
'sealings," "adoptions"- fufther, he did !
lot wish to state, not having progressed /
bat far. The first two named might il
e both before and after sealing, the Il
bird could only be after marriage. A t
L IL